394.115 Panay/131: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
350. I desire that you call as soon as possible upon the Minister for Foreign Affairs and that you make to him, as under instruction from your Government, a statement along lines as follows:
The official reports which are now reaching the Government of the United States in regard to the attack upon the U. S. S. Panay are of a character greatly adding to the seriousness of the reports on which the Government of the United States based its communication to the Japanese Government of December 14. These reports state that while the survivors were escaping from the sinking Panay Japanese airplanes dived and machine-gunned the boats at extremely low altitudes; that before the Panay sank two Japanese Army motorboats approached the ship, machine-gunned it, boarded the ship and stayed for five minutes although colors at the gaff were flying and easily discernible; and that, on reaching shore, the survivors hid the wounded and scattered as planes repeatedly flew over apparently searching to exterminate all. These reports give very definite indication of deliberateness of intent on the part of the Japanese armed forces which made the attack on the U. S. S. Panay and American merchant ships. The Government of the United States is still awaiting the receipt of further and most detailed official reports. Meanwhile, the Government of the United States brings to the notice of the Japanese Government knowledge of the information which the Government of the United States is now receiving and of the seriousness of the character of that information.
The Government of the United States refers to the statement contained in the note of December 14 from the Minister for Foreign Affairs to the American Ambassador at Tokyo that the Japanese Government “will deal appropriately with those responsible for the incident” and states that present information raises still more acutely that question. This information also raises more acutely the question of the character of the specific steps which have been taken to “ensure that hereafter American nationals, interests and property in China will not be subjected to attack by Japanese armed forces or unlawful interference by any Japanese authorities or forces whatsoever”.